Mr Johnson also outlined a “lunar” plan to fight the virus with mass testing, possibly by next spring.
This is due to the fact that the UK has 2,659 more cases of coronavirus, which for the fourth day in a row exceeded 2,000 reported cases.
“I want to be absolutely clear that these measures are not just another national isolation. The whole point is to avoid a second national isolation, ”Johnson said at the first coronavirus briefing on Downing Street since July.
He added that “it hurts me to insist on these restrictions.”
Over the past week, the number of cases has increased from 12.5 per 100,000 to 19.7 per 100,000 in the UK.
The coronavirus was more common among young people, with 54 cases per 100,000 in the 19-21 age group.
Mr. Johnson also announced that:
Places such as pubs and restaurants will be required by law to request each visitor’s contact information, store it for 21 days and provide it to NHS Test and Trace. They face a £ 1,000 fine if they disobey
Opening hours could be limited nationwide if the number of cases continues to rise. But initially, this measure will be limited to local isolated areas such as Bolton, where establishments are to close from 22:00 to 05:00.
“Covid Defense Marshals” will be introduced to help ensure social distancing in cities and city centers.
Passenger search form to be completed by travelers arriving in the UK to comply with quarantine rules will be simplified and border control will strengthen controls
Mr. Johnson said the rules “became quite complex and confusing” and the government “simplified and strengthened” them following police and public feedback.
But Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the new assembly rules reflect that “poor communication was a big part of the problem” with the spread of the virus.
Sir Keir said the government also needed to improve testing, which was “ubiquitous,” following reports that some people could not sign up for tests.
The prime minister said the government was “working on” increasing the testing capacity of 500,000 tests a day at the end of October, but urged people to only order a test if they had coronavirus symptoms.
He said they also want to use new types of tests “in the near future” to identify people who do not have coronavirus and who are not contagious so that they can live “more normal lives.”
He said these swabs or saliva tests can be done in 90 or even 20 minutes, with millions being processed every day.
The prime minister referred to the Apollo space program, describing the “giant collaborative effort” of that test program as a “moon shot” that could restore a more normal lifestyle even if a vaccine or treatment is not available.
“Vulnerable in the spotlight behind the scenes”
Despite all the talk about vaccines and rapid testing, it was clear – of course, listening to the UK’s chief medical advisor, Professor Chris Whitty – that this winter was going to be tough.
Respiratory viruses are generally better tolerated in fall and winter due to colder weather and the fact that people socialize more indoors. This is why every winter we see cases of influenza and, unfortunately, deaths.
Many experts believe the same will happen in the coming months, despite recent measures.
This means that the government has to make very difficult decisions. It must balance the impact of further restrictions, which could cause other harm to health, as well as education and the economy, with the risk of the spread of the virus.
The audience plays a huge role. But that alone may not be enough.
Behind the scenes, there is a lot of focus on how to protect the vulnerable – this could mean closing nursing homes and re-asking people to protect them.
But the UK is in a stronger position than it was at the start of the pandemic. Isolation bought time.
Better treatments are available, and while many testing and tracking challenges remain, existing systems are a step up from where we were when the virus first hit the UK.
These new tests will be conducted with audiences attending indoor and outdoor areas in Salford starting next month.
But the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the technology needed to be “rigorously tested” and it would be “completely wrong to assume this is a successful dunk.”
Chief Physician Professor Chris Whitty acknowledged that the measures that needed to be taken against the coronavirus were “harming” socially, economically and people with other diseases.
“We have to do this because the alternative is worse,” he said.
He added that “the period from now until spring will be difficult,” and people should not view the restrictions “as a very short-term thing,” because they are unlikely to be lifted in just two or three weeks.
Mr. Johnson said it was “too early to talk” about the possibility of hosting big parties at Christmas, but added that he “still hopes” that some aspects of life can return to normal by the holiday season.
He said the restrictions would only apply “as long as necessary.”
“I’m sorry about that. I wish we didn’t take this step, but as your prime minister, I must do whatever is necessary to stop the spread of the virus and save lives, ”he said.
The new Rule of Six means:
Public gatherings more than six people in England will not be permitted by law Monday 14 September
New rule applies to people in private homes, indoors and outdoorsas well as in places such as pubs, restaurants, cafes and open public places.
it applies to all ages
The rule does not apply to schools and workplaces, weddings, funerals and team sports
Full list of exclusions must be published before the law changes
people who ignores the police can be fined £ 100 – doubling for each violation up to a maximum amount of £ 3200.
Metropolitan Police Federation Chairman Ken Marsh said the new rules were “very flimsy” and would be difficult to enforce.
Currently, the guidance says that two households of any size are allowed to meet indoors or outdoors, or up to six people from different households outdoors. Until now, the police did not have the authority to stop assemblies if they did not exceed 30.
The number of people allowed to meet inside or outside varies across four UK countries. If you are meeting indoors: up to eight people from three different families can meet in Scotland; up to six people from two households in Northern Ireland; up to four households can form an “extended family” in Wales…
A new public awareness campaign will be launched across the UK reminding people of the “basics” of washing hands, covering your face and giving others space.
Doncaster Racecourse was said by public health officials to end the presence of spectators at his rally from Thursday. More than 2,500 spectators are expected on Wednesday.
Yesterday, financial agents evaluated the opposite decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) regarding the so-called secret budget. In addition, a decision was made by STF Minister Gilmar Méndez to issue an injunction that would exclude the Bolsa Família from the spending cap rule, with investors trying to understand how this measure would affect the processing of the transitional PEC in the Chamber of Deputies. Oh this PEC!!!!
Since he is an exchange investor, any reading that the budget will be exceeded or become more flexible will negatively affect the exchange market, whether through the PEC or in any other way. We will continue with volatility today.
Looking beyond, the US Central Bank (Fed), although slowing down the pace of monetary tightening at its December meeting, issued a tougher-than-expected statement warning that its fight against inflation was not yet over, raising fears that rising US interest rates will push the world’s largest economy into recession.
The currency market continues to react to political news. The voting on the PEC is saved for today. It is expected that it will indeed be reviewed to open the way tomorrow for discussions on the 2023 budget.
Yesterday, the spot price closed the selling day at R$5.3103.
For today on the calendar we will have an index of consumer confidence in the eurozone. Good luck and good luck in business!!
The former president of the Corinthians dreams of working for the CBF as a national team coordinator. He was consulted shortly after Lula’s election.
Former Corinthians president Andrés Sánchez was advised to take a position in the Ministry of Sports under the administration of Lula (PT). However, he ruled out a return to politics. dreams of taking over the coordination of CBF selectionHow do you know PURPOSE.
No formal invitation was made to the former Corinthian representative, only a consultation on a portfolio opportunity with the new federal government, which will be sworn in on January 1, 2023.
Andrés was the Federal MP for São Paulo from 2015 to 2019. At that time he was elected by the Workers’ Party. However, the football manager begs to stay in the sport, ruling out the possibility of getting involved in politics again.
Andrés Sanchez’s desire is to fill the position of CBF tackle coordinator, which should become vacant after the 2022 World Cup. Juninho Paulista fulfills this function in Brazil’s top football institution.
The former president of Corinthians was in Qatar to follow the World Cup along with other figures in Brazilian football. During his time in the country, he strengthened his ties with the top leadership of the CBF.
BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 19 (ANSA). European Union countries reached a political agreement on Monday (19) to impose a natural gas price ceiling of 180 euros per megawatt hour (MWh). The main sources of income for Russia and the minimization of the use of energy as a weapon by the regime of Vladimir Putin.
The agreement was approved by a supermajority at a ministerial meeting of member states in Brussels, Belgium, after months of discussions about the best way to contain the rise in natural gas prices in the bloc caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. .
The value set by the countries is well below the proposal made by the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, in November: 275 EUR/MWh. However, the countries leading the cap campaign were in favor of an even lower limit, around 100 EUR/MWh.
Germany, always wary of price controls, voted in favor of 180 euros, while Austria and the Netherlands, also skeptical of the cap, abstained. Hungary, the most pro-Russian country in the EU, voted against.
The instrument will enter into force on 15 February, but only if natural gas prices on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange exceed 180 euros/MWh for three consecutive days. In addition, the difference compared to a number of global benchmarks should be more than 35 euros.
Italy, the EU’s biggest supporter of the ceiling, has claimed responsibility for the measure. “This is a victory for Italy, which believed and worked for us to reach this agreement,” Environment and Energy Minister Gilberto Picetto tweeted.
“This is a victory for Italian and European citizens who demand energy security,” he added.
Currently, the gas price in Amsterdam is around 110 EUR/MWh, which is already a reflection of the agreement in Brussels – in August the figure even broke the barrier of 340 EUR/MWh.
However, Russia has already threatened to stop exports to countries that adhere to the ceiling. (ANSA).